Desmid of the month
September 2009

Gonatozygon brebissonii

Unlike inGonatozygon monotaenium cells of G. brebissonii rather gradually taper towards the apices, so are fusiform rather than cylindric in shape. Moreover, cells are often pretty abruptly attenuated just below the truncate ends giving rise to capitate apices. The wall of the vegetative cell is beset with delicate, rounded or acute granules, but zygospores (only rarely encountered) are perfectly smooth-walled. In the Netherlands, G. brebissonii is occasionally found in various types of mesotrophic, slightly acidic to pH-neutral water bodies.